The University of Sheffield
Department of Materials Science and Engineering

MSc(Eng) Aerospace Materials

or PhD with Integrated Studies (specialising in Aerospace Materials)

The new programme has developed from our long established and highly successful MMet programme which has produced more than 700 graduates since its inception in the 1950’s many of whom have taken up top industrial jobs all over the world. The new programme on Aerospace Materials has been developed to provide the broader base appropriate to the under surge of materials of construction used in the Aerospace Industry.

What Does the Course provide?

The course will provide modules in the following disciplines:

Students will also be required to complete a research project on an Aerospace Materials topic.

Master of Science (Aerospace Materials) Course Overview

  Coursework Research Presentations/
Written Work		 Exams
Year 0 Intensive English language training course running from July to September (Optional)      
Semester 1
(75 Credits)		 MAT6010 Experimental Techniques
MAT6090 Skills Development
MAT373 Degradation and Protection for Aerospace
MAT472 Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for Aerospace
MAT475 Composites in Science for Aerospace
English language training course (Optional)		 MAT 6040 Project Skills Development Presentation
Project Plan Presentation
Project Related Essay
Practical Report
Quantitative Metallography Exercises		 Semester 1 Exams
Semester 2
(45 Credits)		 MAT6780 Structural Integrity for Aerospace
MAT471 Aerospace Structural Materials
MAT476 Composites Manufacturing for Aerospace
MAT6375 Metallurgical Applications
English language training course (Optional)		 MAT 6040 Project   Semester 2 Exams
Summer Semester
(60 Credits)		   MAT 6040 Project Project Presentation
Project Dissertation		 Project Viva

Why study Aerospace Materials at the University of Sheffield?

The University of Sheffield Department of Materials Science and Engineering has a wide range of expertise in Aerospace Materials and outstanding experimental facilities. The Department boasts Staff with international reputations in the fields of Aerospace Metallic and Composite Materials and their processing, with excellent characterisation and testing facilities.

Our research rating of 5*A, which we have held since the UK University Research Assessments were introduced in 1996 is recognition of the ‘strength and depth’ and quality of the Staff within our Department.

What Next?

On this course, you will acquire skills of direct use to a range of employers. The course also provides the ideal background for the subsequent pursuit of PhD degrees in Engineering Materials.

An Alternative Option: PhD with Integrated Studies (specialising in Aerospace Materials).

The PhD with Integrated Studies is offered at the University of Sheffield as part of the the New Route PhD initiative- a major development involving over 20 leading UK universities and supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the British Council.

Leading to a full PhD thesis, the programme is designed to enhance students' subject knowledge and develop a range of subject-specific and important generic research skills. Responding to requests from our international partners for a PhD programme with a greater taught component, the PhD with Integrated Studies will also provide students with additional skills for the world of work and so enhance their employability on completion of their programme.

The PhD with Integrated Studies (specialising in Aerospace Materials) is a 4 year course and its structure is shown below.

PhD with Integrated Studies (specialising in Aerospace Materials)

  Coursework Research Presentations/
Written Work		 Exams
Year 0 Intensive English language training course running from July to September (Optional)      
Year 1 Induction Meeting
Managing Research Time
MAT6010 Experimental Techniques
MAT6090 Skills Development
MAT373 Degradation and Protection for Aerospace
MAT472 Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for Aerospace
MAT6780 Structural Integrity for Aerospace
MAT471 Aerospace Structural Materials
MAT476 Composites Manufacturing for Aerospace
MAT6375 Metallurgical Applications		 MAT 6040 Project Skills Development Presentation
Project Plan Presentation
Project Related Essay
Practical Report
Quantitative Metallography Exercises
Project Presentation
Project Dissertation		 Semester 1 Exams
Semester 2 Exams
Project Viva
Year 2 Speaking Skills for Research Purposes
Research Training Programme**		 PhD Project Masters Project Presentation
PhD Transfer Report		 PhD Transfer Viva
Year 3 White Rose Interpersonal Skills School
Research Training Programme**		 PhD Project Research Poster Presentation
PhD Progress Report		 Engineering Materials Poster Presentation
Engineering Materials Project Review
Year 4 Thesis Writing and Viva Preparation
Research Training Programme**		 PhD Project Graduate Research Conference
PhD Dissertation		 PhD Viva

** Requires 20 credits of subject specific modules and 25 credits of generic modules over Years 2, 3 and 4.

What the MSc(Eng) Aerospace course has done for me (A students perspective)

After several years working in the Steel industry I wanted to take my career in a new direction. The decision to study for my Masters degree at the University of Sheffield allowed me to build on the skills I had developed in the Steel industry with a broad and interesting choice of courses. These ranged from thermodynamics to the design of composite structures and I was also given the chance to work on a cutting edge manufacturing research project. As a result, I am now working as a Spacecraft Materials Engineer with EADS Astrium.
David Latham class of 2010/2011

Want to Know More?

For informal enquiries please contact the Aerospace Materials MSc coordinator Dr Brad Wynne E-mail:- b.wynne@sheffield.ac.uk